Scented chemical storage container

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a scented chemical storage container for the storage of chemicals commonly used in the pool, spa, pond, aquarium, sanitation, or other industries storing odoriferous agents in containers. The scented pool chemical storage container comprises a solid, synthetic, polymeric, plastic material, such as a low or high density polyethylene, containing approximately 0.5 to approximately 15 weight percent (%) of a scented or fragranced resin or material uniformly dispersed throughout the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of art to which this invention relates is a container for storage chemicals for use with pool, spa, pond, aquarium, sanitation or other odoriferous chemicals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a scented chemical storage container whereby the container contains a fragrance or scent material uniformly dispersed throughout the polymeric material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The art of plastic molding and particularly injection molding has developed to a point of considerable sophistication. With improved technology, plastics have been developed with a wide variety of physical and chemical properties. Resins and molding compounds are available and may be modified to provide plastics which are rigid or flexible, brittle or impact resistant, soluble or resistant to solvents, clear or opaque, dense or expanded, etc. For any particular application, an expert in the art of plastic technology may select or tailor a resin or molding compound to the needs of the application.

[0003] It has been well known to mold an article in which the resulting polymer is colored. Portions of the resin melt and color dyes are introduced either prior to introduction into the mold or during the molding process by various techniques that are well known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, different color dyes have been introduced into the resin, per se. The isolated melt portions differ only to the extent that they are of different colors and the cured article produced is multicolored. The properties of the cured article are, however, substantially uniform throughout.

[0004] Various resins can employ blending and shaking techniques to pre-mix components of a batch to enhance or affect mixing. Injection molding techniques have been somewhat revolutionized by the introduction of screw-type plasticating units. The basic screw injector apparatus includes an elongated barrel and a screw that extends longitudinally through the barrel. The screw has a helical thread on its surface that cooperates with the internal surface of the barrel bore. The screw is rotated about its own axis to work the molding material and feed it toward the outlet end of the barrel. Characteristic of screw-type injectors is an intense mixing of the materials that occurs during feeding, assuring that, upon reaching the end of the screw, the melt will be of substantially uniform temperature and consistency, and free of small gels and other fine-structure agglomerations. Due to the superior performance of screw-type injectors over those previously utilized, especially involving such features as rate of plasticization, efficiency of heat transfer, degree of mixing, and overall melt quality, current high-production molding facilities rely heavily on such screw injector units.

[0005] Therefore, colored plastics have been produced by a multitude of pre-blending, and screw injector, and molding techniques that have been found highly advantageous in providing polymeric material having substantially homogeneous color and physical properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Residential and public swimming pools and spas, as well as fish and plant ponds and aquariums, require maintenance to minimize bacterial and fungal growth, keep lining materials in good shape, and generally provide an aesthetic, pleasing look. To maintain swimming pools, spas, ponds, aquariums, several chemical agents are employed to provide bactericidal/fungicidal and water treatment. In addition, the sanitation industry it is generally desirable to camouflage the odoriferous chemicals associated with storage and use of chemicals associated with the sanitation industry. Furthermore, other trades and industries store odoriferous chemicals and agents that will also benefit from the present invention scented containers. Many of these chemicals are stored in polymeric containers have removable and replaceable tops or lids which allow for multiple applications.

[0007] The present invention provides two means or methods to camouflage odoriferous chemicals stored in containers.

[0008] The storage of pool, spa, pond, aquarium, sanitation or other odoriferous chemicals in large quantities using multiple containers or cartons, such as those practiced by distributors and vendors, will have the advantage offered by the present invention scented container. The particular scent emanating from the outside surfaces of the presented scented container serves to camouflage the smell of the odoriferous chemicals and provide a more pleasing smell.

[0009] Another key disadvantages of these chemicals and the methods of storage is that when these individual containers are opened, a foul or offending odor generally emanates from the exposed chemicals. The inside surfaces and associated head space volume of the present invention will provide a scent to camouflage the exposed chemicals.

[0010] This invention relates to a scented chemical storage container for the storage of pool, pond, spa and aquarium chemicals, such as solid, powdered or liquid chlorine, muratic acid, alkaline solutions, and algaecides and the storage of sanitation chemicals, such as general detergents, cleaners and sprays, or other odoriferous chemicals used by similar industries.

[0011] The scented chemical storage container comprises approximately 0.5 weight percent (%) to approximately 15 weight percent (%) of a scented resin or material mixed and processed with a base resin or material to form a composite polymer. As with the colored plastics, the present invention is produced with the scented resin uniformly dispersed throughout the container by employing the multitude of pre-blending, screw-type injector, and molding techniques that are known by those skilled in the art to result in polymeric materials having substantially homogeneous scenting and physical properties.

[0012] Fragrances or scents contemplated by the Applicant to be incorporated into the present invention containers include citrus, cherry, cinnamon, vanilla and floral. It is also contemplated that other fragrances can be employed to camouflage the odoriferous chemicals or that a combination of fragrances, e.g. cherry and vanilla, can be incorporated into the present invention containers.

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a chemical storage container that minimizes the offensive odor of pool, spa, pond and aquarium maintenance chemicals emanating from the storage containers.

[0014] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a sanitation chemical storage container that minimizes the offensive odor of detergents, cleaners and sprays emanating from storage the containers.

[0015] It is further an object of the present invention to provide a storage container that camouflages odoriferous chemicals associated with their storage in containers.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a chemical storage container that camouflages odoriferous pool, spa, pond or aquarium chemicals.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide a chemical storage container that camouflages odoriferous sanitation chemicals.

[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a pool, spa, pond and aquarium chemical storage container that provides a pleasing odor or smell when opened.

[0019] It is another object of the present invention to provide a sanitation chemical storage container that provides a pleasing odor or smell when opened.

[0020] It is another object of the present invention to provide a chemical storage container that emanates a scent from the outside of the container to minimize and camouflaged odors associated with the storage of large quantities of pool, spa, pond, aquarium, sanitation, and other odoriferous chemicals and agents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The objects and features of the invention may be better understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the scented polymeric pellets and non-scented or base polymeric pellets used to fabricate the present invention scented containers. Furthermore, the figure provides a perspective view of a typical injection-molding machine used to fabricated the present invention scented containers.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one type of scented container representing the present invention and the scent emanating from the inside surfaces and the headspace of the container.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another type of scented container representing the present invention scent emanating from the outside surfaces of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Residential and public swimming pools and spas, as well as fish and plant ponds and aquariums, require maintenance to minimize bacterial and fungal growth, keep lining materials in good shape, and generally provide an aesthetic, pleasing look. To maintain swimming pools, spas, ponds, aquariums, several chemical agents are employed to provide bactericidal/fungicidal and water treatment. Many of these chemicals are stored in polymeric containers have removable and replaceable tops or lids which allow for multiple applications. It also is generally desirable to camouflage the odoriferous chemicals associated with storage and use of chemicals and agents associated with the sanitation industry methods. For some examples, sanitation chemicals agents are used in dishwasher detergents, toilet, shower and bathroom cleaners, and in the cleaning products for concrete, tile and other floor materials. In addition, other trades and industries store odoriferous chemicals and agents that will also benefit from the present invention scented containers.

[0026] Many of these chemicals are stored in polymeric containers that have removable and replaceable tops for allowing multiple treatments. One of the disadvantages of these chemicals and its method of storage is that when the container is opened, a foul or offending odor generally emanates from the opened container. The present invention provides a pleasing odor or smell when the container is opened.

[0027] Another advantage is that storage of a large quantity of chemicals in a warehouse or store shelf, the present invention container with function to minimize and camouflage offending chemical odors. The storage of pool, spa, pond, aquarium, sanitation or other odoriferous chemicals in large quantities using multiple containers or cartons, such as those practiced by distributors and vendors, will have the advantage offered by the present invention scented container.

[0028]FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of plastic resins and pellets used to form the present invention. One group of plastic resins is the scented carrier resins 10. These carrier resins are available as high and low density polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, PVC and other thermoplastic pellets. These polymeric carrier resins have various fragrance levels ranging from 10 to 40 percent with softening points from approximately 100 degrees to 180 degrees centigrade for the high and low density polyethylene resins. Scented polymer resins are available in various sizes, shapes and thickness specifications to meet the particular contain requirements and, furthermore to assure that separation of the scent carrier resin from the base resin does not occur during or after blending. These scented carrier pellets are packaged and stored in a dry physical form to minimize the rate of dissipation or dispelling of the scented material from the plastic resin. One particular manufacturer of scented polymers is the Polyscent™ resins sold by Ployvel Inc. in Hammonton, N.J.

[0029]FIG. 1 also illustrates another base plastic resin 20 that is blended with the scented carrier resin 10 to fabricate the final present invention containers. It is well known to those skilled in the art that certain parameters of the carrier scented resins 10 and base resin 20 must be compatible for processing to achieve desirable quality characteristics.

[0030] Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, this invention relates to a scented pool chemical storage container for the storage of pool, spa, pond and aquarium chemicals, such as solid, powdered or liquid chlorine, muratic acid, alkaline solutions, and algaecides. The scented chemical storage container comprises approximately 0.5 to approximately 15 weight percent (%) of a scented resin or material mixed and processed with a base resin or material to form a polymeric composite. For example, a 25 percent (%) scented weight carrier resin 10 is mixed and processed in a volumetric mixture of 4 percent (%) combined with 96 percent (%) base plastic resin 20 resulting in a final weight percentage of 1 percent (%) scented resin. It is contemplated by the Applicant that weight percentages in the range of 0.5 percent (%) to 15 weight percent (%) of the carrier scented resin will be utilized to fabricate the present invention scented containers for the purposes of camouflaging various odoriferous chemicals. It is also contemplated by the Applicant that larger percentages of the scented resin will have a longer dissipation or dispelling rate of the particular scent employed. As shown in FIGS. 2, the present invention can be relatively large container or canister type 42 with lid 40 that attaches to the container or canister by screwing means or other methods. In addition, the present invention can be used with relatively small bottles or containers 44 with its associated capping means 46. As shown in FIG. 2, the particular scent 41 is designed to emanate from the interior of the container to camouflage the odoriferous chemicals contained within. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the container is closed, the particular scent 43 will emanate from the outside surfaces of the container.

[0031] As with the colored plastics, the present invention is produced with a fragrance or scent uniformly dispersed throughout the contained by employing the multitude of pre-blending and screw injector, and molding techniques that are known by those skilled in the art to result in polymeric materials having substantially homogeneous fragrances or scents and physical properties.

[0032] Fragrances or scents contemplated by the Applicant to be incorporated into the present invention containers include citrus, cherry, cinnamon, vanilla and floral. It is also contemplated that other fragrances can be employed to camouflage the odoriferous chemicals or that a combination of fragrances, e.g. cherry and vanilla, can be incorporated into the present invention scented containers.

[0033] The process for fabrication of the present invention scented containers, a citrus, cherry, cinnamon, vanilla and floral, or another scent or combination of fragrances base scent is compounded with a carrier resin via a proprietary process developed by some companies, e.g. Polyvel Inc. in Hammonton, N.J.

[0034] The carrier resin should match, or be compatible, with the base plastic resin being used in the final molded product.

[0035] The compounded scent resin is then added to the molding resin either prior to, or at the time of, processing. If the compounded scent resin is added prior to the time of processing, blending techniques such as vibrating, rotating means will be utilized to uniformly disperse the two compound resins. Once blended, the storage of compounded scent resin should be controlled to minimize the loss of the fragrance or scent during the storage process.

[0036] Referring back to FIG. 1, the resins can be independently feed into the main hopper 31 of the molding machine 30 with a screw-type injector 33. Characteristic of screw-type injectors is an intense mixing of the carrier scented resin 10 with the base resin 20 which occurs during feeding which assures that upon reaching the end of the screw, the melt will be of substantially uniform temperature and consistency, and free of small gels and other fine-structure agglomerations. In one example, this rate of feeding the carrier scented resin 10 with the base resin 20, accomplished either manually or mechanically, at a loading rate having an approximate ratio of 4 pounds of the carrier scent resin 10 to 96 pounds of the base resin 20 to equal a total of compounded molding resin of 100 pounds.

[0037] The blended plastic pellets are then moved down a heated barrel to the head of the machine and into the particular mold 37. Various heating means are provided along the length of the process means to control the temperature of the particular compounded resin at various stages to achieve the desirable characteristics. The type of head, mold and the temperatures which are required vary depending upon the process and the material used, however, since the scented carrier resins 10 have a dissipation or dispelling rate of the particular scent, the processing temperatures should be maintained at the low end of the softness and melting points of the particular polymeric material to minimize the loss of fragrance or scent.

[0038] Various containers, pails and lids employ various molds utilizing the process of injection molding using loading parameters and temperatures particular to the polymer processed. Actual temperatures will vary along the length of the machine and will vary depending on the type of machine used, pressure to be used, and the configuration of the part to be molded.

[0039] While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 

We claim:
 1. A chemical storage apparatus comprising: a container having a removable top; and said container made from a substantially polymeric material with a scented or fragranced material uniformly dispersed throughout the material.
 2. The chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the amount of said fragrance or scented material is approximately 0.5 to approximately 15 weight percent (%).
 3. The chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said polymeric material is a thermoplastic material.
 4. The chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container is substantial cylindrical in shape.
 5. The chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container is substantial square in shape.
 6. The chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container is substantial bottlelike in shape.
 7. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container is substantial rectangular in shape.
 8. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scent or fragrance has primarily a citrus scent.
 9. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scent or fragrance has primarily a vanilla scent.
 10. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scent fragrance has primarily a cherry scent.
 11. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scent or fragrance has primarily a floral scent.
 12. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scent or fragrance has primarily a cinnamon scent.
 13. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scent or fragrance includes any group of scents that function to camouflage odoriferous chemicals.
 14. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scent or fragrance includes any combination of citrus, vanilla, cherry, floral, cinnamon, or any group of scents that function to camouflage odoriferous chemicals.
 15. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising the storage of chemicals within the chemical storage apparatus that are commonly used in pools, spas, ponds, and aquariums.
 16. A chemical storage apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising the storage of chemicals and agents within the storage apparatuses that are commonly used in sanitation trade.
 17. A chemical storage apparatus comprising: a container having a removable top; and said container made from a substantially polymeric material with a scented or fragranced material uniformly dispersed throughout the material. said scented or fragranced material emanating from the inside of said container.
 18. A chemical storage apparatus comprising: a container having a removable top; and said container made from a substantially polymeric material with a scented or fragranced material uniformly dispersed throughout the material. said scented or fragranced material emanating from the outside of said container.
 19. A chemical storage apparatus comprising: a container having a removable top; and said container made from a substantially polymeric material with a scented or fragranced material uniformly dispersed throughout the material. said scented or fragranced material emanating from both the inside and outside of said container. 